Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION HEARING DATE: June 19, 2008 TIME: 10:00 AM PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 200 N. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 CASE NO.: CHC-2008-1682-HCM Location: 2424 Wilshire Boulevard Council District: 1 Community Plan Area: Westlake Area Planning Commission: Central Neighborhood Council: MacArthur Park Legal Description: Lot 3, Block 1 of Wilshire Boulevard Tract PROJECT: REQUEST: APPLICANT/ OWNER S REPRESENTATIVE: OWNER: RECOMMENDATION Historic-Cultural Monument Application for PARK WILSHIRE BUILDING Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument Christy McAvoy and Jessica Ritz Historic Resources Group 1728 N. Whitley Avenue Hollywood, CA 90028 John Palmer, General Partner 1865 Bush Street Investors, LLP Mill Valley, CA 94941 That the Cultural Heritage Commission: 1. Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Chapter 9, Division 22, Article 1, Section 22.171.7 2. Adopt the report findings. S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP Director of Planning [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Ken Bernstein, Manager Office of Historic Resources [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Lambert M. Giessinger, Preservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Prepared by: [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Edgar Garcia, Preservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Attachments: March 20, 2008 Historic-Cultural Monument Application ZIMAS Report
2424 Wilshire Boulevard CHC-2008-1682-HCM Page 2 of 3 FINDINGS The subject building embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction as an example of Italian Renaissance Revival style. CRITERIA The criterion is the Cultural Heritage Ordinance which defines a historical or cultural monument as any site (including significant trees or other plant life located thereon) building or structure of particular historic or cultural significance to the City of Los Angeles, such as historic structures or sites in which the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community is reflected or exemplified, or which are identified with historic personages or with important events in the main currents of national, State or local history or which embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction, or a notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual genius influenced his age. SUMMARY Built in 1923 and located in the Westlake area, this eight-story multi-residential building exhibits character-defining features of the Italian Renaissance Revival style. The subject building is U- shaped around a courtyard leading to a main entrance with semi-circular arched windows separated by pilasters and a cartouche with partially intact garlands. The primary facades of the building are clad in polychrome brick with glazed terracotta bands and rectangles. Windows are double hung wooden sash windows. French doors with divided lights are located at some top floor units. The roof includes a small painted terracotta cap and a belt course below the top story windows, and is enclosed by a metal railing. Upper level windows on the north elevation s two wings are embellished with terracotta spanning between the roofline and the belt course, containing Italianate imagery of urns and fauna. Also in place are two large neon signs added in the 1930s, with the text Park Wilshire in Gothic font. Significant interior spaces include painted coffered ceilings, egg-and-tongue crown moulding, arched openings, and wainscoting. The proposed Park Wilshire historic monument was designed by Clarence H. Russell (1874-1942) and Norman W. Alpaugh (1885-1954). Russell and Alpaugh together designed numerous buildings, including the Town House (1928-1929, Historic-Cultural Monument #576). The subject building was constructed for the Wilshire-Carondelet Holding Company, a group of local developers. Later additions to the property include awnings on the first, third, fifth, and eighth floors, the filling in of basement level openings along Carondelet Street with solid materials, and stained glass skylights in the larger penthouse units. DISCUSSION The Park Wilshire property successfully meets two of the specified Historic-Cultural Monument criteria: embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction. As a significant residential building designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, the property qualifies for designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument based on these criteria.
2424 Wilshire Boulevard CHC-2008-1682-HCM Page 3 of 3 BACKGROUND At its meeting of May 6, 2008, the Cultural Heritage Commission voted to take the application under consideration. On June 5, 2008, the Cultural Heritage Commission toured the subject property.
Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION HEARING DATE: May 6, 2008 TIME: 10:00 AM PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 200 N. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 CASE NO.: CHC-2008-1682-HCM Location: 2424 Wilshire Boulevard Council District: 1 Community Plan Area: Westlake Area Planning Commission: Central Neighborhood Council: MacArthur Park Legal Description: Lot 3, Block 1 of Wilshire Boulevard Tract PROJECT: REQUEST: APPLICANT/ OWNER S REPRESENTATIVE: OWNER: RECOMMENDATION Historic-Cultural Monument Application for PARK WILSHIRE BUILDING Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument Christy McAvoy and Jessica Ritz Historic Resources Group 1728 N. Whitley Avenue Hollywood, CA 90028 John Palmer, General Partner 1865 Bush Street Investors, LLP Mill Valley, CA 94941 That the Cultural Heritage Commission: 1. Take the property under consideration as a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Chapter 9, Division 22, Article 1, Section 22.171.10 because the application and accompanying photo documentation suggest the submittal may warrant further investigation. 2. Adopt the report findings. S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP Director of Planning [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Lambert M. Giessinger, Preservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Prepared by: [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Edgar Garcia, Preservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Attachments: March 20, 2008 Historic-Cultural Monument Application ZIMAS Report
2424 Wilshire Boulevard CHC-2008-1682-HCM Page 2 of 2 SUMMARY Built in 1923 and located in the Westlake area, this eight-story multi-residential building exhibits character-defining features of the Italian Renaissance Revival style. The subject building is U- shaped around a courtyard leading to a main entrance with semi-circular arched windows separated by pilasters and a cartouche with partially intact garlands. The primary facades of the building are clad in polychrome brick with glazed terracotta bands and rectangles. Windows are double hung wooden sash windows. French doors with divided lights are located at some top floor units. The roof includes a small painted terracotta cap and a belt course below the top story windows, and is enclosed by a metal railing. Upper level windows on the north elevation s two wings are embellished with terracotta spanning between the roofline and the belt course, containing Italianate imagery of urns and fauna. Also in place are two large neon signs added in the 1930s, with the text Park Wilshire in Gothic font. Significant interior spaces include painted coffered ceilings, egg-and-tongue crown moulding, arched openings, and wainscoting. The proposed Park Wilshire historic monument was designed by Clarence H. Russell (1874-1942) and Norman W. Alpaugh (1885-1954). Russell and Alpaugh together designed numerous buildings, including the Town House (1928-1929, Historic-Cultural Monument #576). The subject building was constructed for the Wilshire-Carondelet Holding Company, a group of local developers. Later additions to the property include awnings on the first, third, fifth, and eighth floors, the filling in of basement level openings along Carondelet Street with solid materials, and stained glass skylights in the larger penthouse units. CRITERIA The criterion is the Cultural Heritage Ordinance which defines a historical or cultural monument as any site (including significant trees or other plant life located thereon) building or structure of particular historic or cultural significance to the City of Los Angeles, such as historic structures or sites in which the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community is reflected or exemplified, or which are identified with historic personages or with important events in the main currents of national, State or local history or which embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction, or a notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual genius influenced his age. FINDINGS Based on the facts set forth in the summary and application, the Commission determines that the application is complete and that the property may be significant enough to warrant further investigation as a potential Historic-Cultural Monument.